Robert is a better bass player than Jason, IMO. Jason wasn't bad by any means, but everyone loved him just because he was awesome at doing back up vocals live. Cliff has them both beat though by leaps and bounds.

I think Cliff was what made Metallica go and it all went downhill after he died. I do like Jason. Not really a solo player, but otherwise he's very good and I like him. I have a conflicting view on him joining Metallica because he made a lot of money, but musically had very little input and I think he's a talented guy who could have used a more interesting band to play with. His previous band was kick ass and went on to have a lot of good albums without him. I actually prefer their first over anything Metallica ever did, to be honest.

lol, I do hate Robert T., sorry. He'll hang his bass low, spread his legs, make a scary face, and play like he just picked up the instrument. His solos if you can call them that, rather attempts, are outright embarrassing. I bring it up because a while ago I said he sucks and some people said he's good. That's fine, I don't care. This sums him up pretty well:

I'll take that album over anything from Metallica. More talent, better songwriting. I would have much rather stayed and developed this band than jump for money for Jason did. Not criticizing him, just saying it would kill me to play with a band where I'm treated like crap and play music that just isn't interesting (after they turned to hard rock). Oh, not another Metallica debate. I'm going to hide now.

James and Lars make Metallica go, good or bad. You can interchange bass players, and even Hammett could leave and they would carry on, one of James or Lars goes.... the band would be done. They are the straws that stir the drink.

Sarcastic wrote:I'll take that album over anything from Metallica. More talent, better songwriting. I would have much rather stayed and developed this band than jump for money for Jason did. Not criticizing him, just saying it would kill me to play with a band where I'm treated like crap and play music that just isn't interesting (after they turned to hard rock). Oh, not another Metallica debate. I'm going to hide now.

You are one of the few that wouldn't jump. I think most bass players who are in a band that is not very big on a national level would jump pretty quickly to join one of the biggest metal bands on the planet(they hadn't quite reached their pinnacle popularity when Jason joined, but you get my point). The band did treat him like **** though especially during Justice, but that's how they were back then. James and Lars were ******* and what they said went. Hell if you look at most of the stuff after Justice you can argue it should have stayed that way, cause that's when the band was at it's peak musically.

Sarcastic wrote:I'll take that album over anything from Metallica. More talent, better songwriting. I would have much rather stayed and developed this band than jump for money for Jason did. Not criticizing him, just saying it would kill me to play with a band where I'm treated like crap and play music that just isn't interesting (after they turned to hard rock). Oh, not another Metallica debate. I'm going to hide now.

You are one of the few that wouldn't jump. I think most bass players who are in a band that is not very big on a national level would jump pretty quickly to join one of the biggest metal bands on the planet(they hadn't quite reached their pinnacle popularity when Jason joined, but you get my point). The band did treat him like **** though especially during Justice, but that's how they were back then. James and Lars were ******* and what they said went. Hell if you look at most of the stuff after Justice you can argue it should have stayed that way, cause that's when the band was at it's peak musically.

I know, that's why I don't blame him. He made money and got to play in front of huge audiences. That's a dream in itself.

That song She Took an Axe is a masterpiece. It is so well written, it's hard yet so very melodic. Holy crap. And that lead guitar that soars above everything else toward the end made my hair stand all over my body again. What a wave of chills came over me. I've listened to that album since it came out, just not in a while, yet every time I do I am astounded how talented those guys were.

btw, if there was a poll in the bass community on who is the best bassist today, I'm 99% sure he would win. Not because of anything he does in this particular clip, just his overall talent and popularity.